Psalm Category: Song of Trust

Central Thought: Psalm 23 reminds us that, while the journey of this life is harrowing, we will make it safely home because Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

Key Word: Magal (v. 3). Magal is translated as “paths” in verse 3. This word is related to the Hebrew words for cow and the cart pulled by the cow. The wheels of the cart would create a path in the earth, much like the ruts a car tire makes in the mud. The idea is that life is much safer lived in the well-worn track of God’s law instead of the pathway of our own creation.

Psalm 23

The Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann prefaced his remarks on Psalm 23 with these words: “It is almost pretentious to comment on this psalm.” I have a similar feeling as I approach this text. What does one say about a text so familiar?

Perhaps it is the familiarity that warrants comment. Familiarity with a text often leads to an interpretation that is a caricature of the true meaning. Generally spealdng, Christians have tended to focus on the green pastures and the quiet waters while losing sight of the pursuing enemies and the valley of the shadow of death.

This psalm is a pilgrimage psalm. The psalmist is trying to malee it home. The question is, “Will he make it?”

The Shepherd Who Provides (vv. 1-2): The psalm opens by connecting the covenant Lord with the metaphor of the shepherd. In the Ancient Near East, a king was not only his people’s ruler, but he was also their provider. Yahweh is not only our great King, but He is also our great Shepherd. He provides for His sheep by giving them food (“green pastures”) and drink (“quiet waters”). The promise is not that we will have everything we want, but that we will have everything we need. Perhaps the psalmist is recalling God’s provision to Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness (Ex. 16:18; Deut. 2:7). A follower of Yahweh will lack no good thing (Ps. 34:10).

The Shepherd Who Protects (vv. 3-4): As the pilgrimage ofthe psalmist progresses, we leave the green pastures and enter the valley of the shadow of death. The valley is a dangerous place, and we learn that the Shepherd provides us with protection. He does this by leading us in “paths of righteousness.” That is, He guides us within the boundaries of His law He herds us toward righteousness for our own good. He also protects us with His rod and staff Just like an earthly shepherd, our divine Shepherd uses His rod and staff to keep our enemies at bay and to discipline His straying sheep.

The Shepherd who Is Our Portion (vv. 5-6): As we come to the end of the psalm, the shepherd imagery gives way to the imagery of a host. Yahweh is now welcoming the pilgrim to His table, and what a table it is! The psalmist enjoys an abundance of oil and wine as his enemies look on impotently While the feast is great, the supreme joy of the psalmist is found in his communion with God. The Lord’s table is a place of divine covenantal intimacy (Ex. 24:9-11; I Cor. 11:25). It is there that the psalmist realizes that God is his portion (Ps. 73:26). It is there he realizes that he is no longer pursued by his enemies, but rather by “goodness” and “mercy” It is there that he realizes that he will dwell in God’s house forever. It is at the table of the Lord that the psalmist recognizes that he will make it safely home. Consider these things when you partake of the Lord’s table.

While David knew the blessing of God as his Shepherd, we know more. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He provides for us (John 6:35). He protects us (Rom. 8:38-39). He is our portion, and we will dwell with Him forever (John 14:2-3). There is one additional thing we know that David did not. We know that the Good Shepherd is not only our companion through the valley of the shadow of death, but that He has traversed it Himself We can never forget that Psalm 22 precedes Psalm 23; that “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” precedes “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Place your trust in the Good Shepherd, and He will bring you safely home.

—Anthony T. Selvaggio